What is true Joy?

When we hear or read the word Joy, what’s the first thought that comes to mind? Happiness, satisfaction, a cheerful heart? A lot of people look at it as an emotion based on happy feelings. Let’s define the term and find out what it really means. 

The New Oxford American Dictionary describes Joy as: a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. 

The Greek word for Joy is Chará. It means: to rejoice. 

Another Greek word is Cháris. It means several things. Here are a few: favor, acceptance, a kindness granted or desired, a benefit, thanks, gratitude, grace. 

Jesus stated in the gospels that the joy he gives is a joy no man can take away from us. It’s an everlasting, abiding joy. That’s a wonderful reality. But what is God’s joy based on? 

Unlike human joy that’s based on happy feelings alone, true Christian joy has to be based on facts; facts that can’t be tossed to and fro based on our whimsical feelings. 

Reasons why we are to have joy 

Our names are written in heaven: Jesus speaking to his disciples said this in regards to evil spirits being subject to them through the power of God: “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you, but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). 

What joy that should bring to any believer! To know that your name has been written in God’s book. If it’s there, it can never be erased. 

The revelation of truth: In that same hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit and said, “I thank thee O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed then unto babes; even so Father; for it seemed good in your sight” (Luke 10:21). 

Jesus Christ rejoiced because it pleased the Father to reveal his secrets to the less noble and powerful in the world and has chosen to reveal his power to the lowly and humble. 

Obedience: Jesus said, “If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love even as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:10,11). 

We experience Godly Joy when we obey the commands of the Lord. Knowing we have done what God has commanded us is a manifestation of his power operating in us; this should bring us inexpressible joy; knowing that God is with us. 

The hope of the Lord’s return: Jesus said, “And ye now therefore have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man takes from you.” (John 16:22). 

The believer has a blessed assurance that Jesus is preparing a place for us so that he can receive us unto himself. This truth should bring us great joy and anticipation. 

The joy in answered prayer: Jesus said, “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you shall receive that your joy may be full.” (John 16:24). 

As a result of being a child of God, we have the divine right to petition the Lord for what we need. It’s a joy and privilege to have the right to ask, and even more of a joy to receive what we have asked for. This brings full joy (Hebrews 4:16). 

The joy of the Lord is a spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3). It’s a fruit of the Spirit that we must cultivate (Galatians 5:22). It’s a virtue that every believer has and must develop through obedience and holy living. Only then will true and full joy in Christ be realized. Christian joy’s bedrock has to be the truth of scripture. That’s the only way we can see it and grab on to it; especially when times are hard. This joy is strengthening and assists our faith in the Lord. This Joy is not an emotion that comes and goes. It’s an agent of the Holy Ghost that fills up the believer in his hour of need and reminds him of the blessed hope of his most glorious future! 

Paul said this way, “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). 

 

DEALING WITH OUR SINS

As the year closes, I wanted share some thoughts with you regarding our sins. Although never a popular topic we want to discuss, we must if we’re to identify the sin in our lives and conquer it.

How do you view your sins; a moral lapse in judgment? Perhaps just a simple mistake, “No big deal, we all get “caught up.” Or, you don’t confess your sins at all because you’re a “good person” and God knows your heart. That’s very true, God does know your heart. All the more the reason to confess your sins unto God right?

A simple definition of sin is the transgression of God’s holy law. When one reads God’s word, understand it and violate his commands, we’ve sinned against the Lord. This should grieve us to the core; especially those of us who are Christians. If one doesn’t feel bad when they’ve committed sin, there’s a couple of things going on:

1. Lack of knowledge of their sins and it’s consequences (Romans 6:23)

2. The sinners loves their sins and refuses to repent of them (John 3;19,20; 8:44)

We should be so broken over our sin that we should be like the man in Luke 18:13 who beat his breast while not even looking up to heaven and said, “God be merciful to me a sinner.” This is the humble attitude God is looking for. This is the type of person God will save.

Remember, sin is an affront to God’s holy character. He hates it and must punish it. The problem with sinful man is he believes God is unjust when he punishes them for his sins. Exactly the opposite is true. Man’s sin means he has committed crimes against God. Would we disagree a pedophile or rapist deserves to be punished for their crimes in a court of law and be condemned? Of course we would not disagree. We despise lawbreakers. How much more should God Almighty punish his enemies for their sins?

Sin tragically produces death unless one confesses and repents from them.

The big question is how? The answer is God’s word. David said in Psalm 119:11, “Your word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you.” The word contains power to transform us within so that we can live a holy lifestyle without. The apostle Paul said in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes (emphasis added).

That word power in the Greek is Dumamis. This is where we get the english word dynamite.

When taught effectively the power of the word will explode in the heart of the sinner so that he’ll beat his breast in humility and conviction and cry out to the savior for mercy on his soul that he can be saved.

Jesus Christ has provided the way for mankind’s salvation (John 14:6). He paid for our sins with his substitutionary blood sacrifice.

Jesus also provided us with the knowledge of that great salvation through holy scripture.

Do not be foolish in saying you have no sin. You make God out to be a liar (which is impossible), and the truth is not in you. The sinner is actually the liar (I John 1:8-10).

No one should be so audacious that they would refuse to confess their sins unto God so they can receive the gift of all gifts; salvation–that is life eternal.

The impudence of man and his love for sin is what condemns him to a Christ-less eternity, but why go that route?

If one would simply turn to Jesus Christ today and believe in him their sins will be forgiven forever. Do not despise the sacrifice of Christ, it’s the ultimate blasphemy. You can’t receive salvation by any other name (Acts 4:12).